Rocker toy



Oct. 16, 1928.

L. 1 MALLARD ROCKER TOY Filed March 30, 1926 CII Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

PATENToFFICE;

LOGAN L. MALLARD, or NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

' ROCKER TOY.

Application ledrMaifchr30pl926. Serial No. 98,544

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in toys and moreparticularly to a toy of a rocker type, the principal ob-k ject being toprovide an invention of this character which may give kthe combinedeffect of a hobby horse and see-saw.

A further object of the inventionresides lin providing a device of'thischaracterwhich maybe used or constructed for useof one or two' persons,it beiiigia further object to provide a means for the enjoymentof'children in the homes where the use of moving toys are not alwaysconvenient. y i f Still another object resides in so constructing thetoy as to enable it to be given a for-I ward or progressive movement, ifdesired.

A further object L resides in providing a device which is simple anddurable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which willbe very efficient and amusing in use.

' lith these and numerous other objectsin view, my invention consists inthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointedout in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordancewith my 'invention. i Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of aslight modification of theinvention, showing its application to usewhereby two persons may be seated thereon and operate same. i

f Figure 3 is a fragmentary section show ing a slight modification lofthe footpiece used on the ground engaging element for giving progressivemovement to the device, Figuret is afsection therethrough as seen ontheline 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view, in fragr ment, ofone endof the groundengaging element showing another formof meansto produce progressivemovement to the device;

Indescribing the invention I shall refer to the drawing in which similarreference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views and in which l designates an upper bar to thefends vofwhich are connected the downwardly' and outwardlyinclined arms 2,arranged in pairs,

said arms forming ysupportsfor the bark 1` falso as foot rests.

v which are mounted on the upper edges of said rockers, acting as bracestherefor andl .Pivotally connected to the bar lfinterrmeL diatetheends'of'the latter isa depending arm 5, the upper end ofthe latterbeing bifurcated to receive the bar l therein and the 1 pivotbeingformed by the bolt 6. The lower end of the arm`5 'is alsobifurcated and fulcrumed .between the furcations is a ground or floorengaging member 7; This,-

member 7 is fulcrumed` to the lower end of" the arm 5 intermediate the,ends of the former and in the normal position of the device isvsubstantially parallelr with the ground orY floor a fraction of an inchthereabove. Connected withthe member 7 which maybe called, forconvenience, aV ground or floor Vpressure member is a link 8 which hasits connection adjacent the fulcrumed point of said member 7, theopposite end of saidlink S being vengaged with an opening 9 in the' barl to one side ofthe center of the latter.

Anr operating member 10 having a slot intermediate 'of its endsthroughwhich the bar l extends is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends tosaid bar so that af portion extends above and below the latter. Avhandle 1l is mounted on the upper portion of the member l() and thelower end of said member'is connected with the bar 5 by means of arectangularly shaped link l2. A seat 13 is mounted ony the bar l in aconvenient :position thereon so that a child mayrseat uponthe same andactuate the device. A pull or push upon the handle 6 when the child isseated on the device with its feet on the lsupport 4 willr obviouslyactuate the floor pressureV member 7, causing one end of the latter tobe forced downwardlytinto.` engagement with the floor and roclrthedevice. The engagement ofthe member 7 with `the floor obviously raises,the one end of the device and continuous pulling and pushing of the op-@rating member 0l() will produce a continuous rocking motion. If aforward. or progressive movement is desired, means may be applied to theendsof the member 7'to ac-V complish 4this result, as will appeari'ndetail herebelow, it being understood .that this means Vmay be appliedtothe form of the SII lus

lili

device shown in Figure 1 of thedrawingas well as any` other form of theinvention.

" As stated in the objects ot the invention,r

this device is capahlevotuse by one or two children, the changebeing'slight in order to accommodate more than one person. The

principle 'of the invention remains the same whether one or two personsuse or actuate the toy and herebelowI have described in detail themodificationillustrated in Figure 2 whereby two children `may beyaccommodated on the device. f

i Y In this modified torni of the invention the *general trame work isconstructed the saine as iny the aforesaid form, consisting of an upperbar 14, to the endsof Awhich are connected vin any desired ina-nner thedivergent arms Vwhich also connect with :a pair of rockers 16'adjacentithe ends of the latter. Foot rests l17, similar to theiootrests in the diret mentioned form are secured to the upper edges of therockers 16, 'the saine `orming braces for the'latter as well as supports`tor A fthe feet of the users ot the toy. A pair of Iseats 18 is mountedon the bar 14e at the ends oit thelatter so that two persons may beaccommodated and :as the 'foot rests 1'? Vare con veniently located withrespect to the seats,'A

the feet ofthe two parties using the toy may rest. thereon.

Fulcrun'ied on the bar 14 at a point "designated 'by the numeral 19 is alever 20which projectsdownwardly below the bar to a point y ouslydescribed torni.

the Amember 21 with the ibar'li as shown in adjacent the ground orkfloor and also projects .a short distance above the bar. fr

ground or floor `pressure member 21 is pivoted intermediate ot its endsto thelowermost hiturcated end oi the lever 20 in a manner similar .tothe construction and illustration shown in connectionwith the previ? Alink 22 connects the previous torni. The extreme'upper end of the lever20 is biturcated and has secured thereto a short armf23 to the rends ofwhich lare -connected the handles 2li. A pair of handles being 'thusprovided enables' vthe two yoccupants of the device to grasp the saine.on

both sides ot the lever and assistinthe oper- 'fa-tiono'f the toy. f Y

Iniorder' to protectthe'floor of the struc-l turewhere this toyiis usedagainst scratchingiand to further `prevent noise, the lowerVa'cesoipthe' ends ot the hoor-pressure member 21 may be covered withthe contact strips V25 r"which maybe formed of; rubber, telt or cloth,as desired. Both ends of the `member may be so provided, if desired, andalthough not shown in connection fwifth the irstmenstrips may alsotionedviform, these contact V'beused there when desired.

Tofproduce aforward or progressive ino-c`v .tiontothe toy` I `have alsoprovided for use on (one `end oit the licor Ypressure.'men'iber21 anadditional element.y This elementA conpreferably corrugated and formedoiI rubber, `telt or cloth, preferably the former. i leaf spring 29 issecured at `its one end tothe crown of the strap 27 andV its oneefnd isbent lto conto-rm to an indentation formed in the upper liaceoithemember 21, as shown, iroin this construction it will he seen that when?the strap 27 is slipped over the end ofthe mem-ber 21 the lsame togetherwith its block 526 will be held in the position shown under the springtension. @bviously theprojection :on the lower tace of one end Aof themein-f4 ber 21 will vcause a gradual aroofressivemove` jment in onedirection as they toy is rocked continuously. Y

I have `:shown a slight modiiication oi' rthis idea in Figures 3 and 4lwherein the end "ot a floor or ground pressure member is illustrated towhich is. applied a rubber sleeve 3l, the under krace of which is`corrugated as shown at 32. Obviouslyvthis rubber sleeve may be readilyapplied to'zthe Vground pres-w sure member and held thereon by beingkstretched into position as a Contact tace thereof will cause :theprogressive movement i in one direction as the toy is rocked.

It wi'llbe seen from the foregoing Ithat Ik have provided a t-oyieapableot being used jt'or one or :two child-ren and one which willgive considerable entertainment and amusement. The main portions of theldevice are made of wood, although the same may be y"constructed voitother 'iiiater-ial and it is so -designed that `it may be knocked downand :shipped 'from place to piace in compacted 4form. The toy may bepainted in .varied colors with various designs thereon to 'appearattractive to the eye voit .the lchildren and others and beingconstructed ot :few and .sinrple par-ts, .the saine may be manufacturedand :sold :at a comparatively low cost.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I s have provided a `simple,inexpensive and etti'-` cient means for carrying out the lobjects of theinvention and while I have particularly described the lelements bestadapted to' perform the functions set' forth, it vis obvious thatvarious changesin form, proportion -and in the minor :details ofl'construction may be resorted to without departing from the spiritorvsacrificing any of )the principles of c the. invention. Y "f C Havingthus ldescribed the invention what is lclaimed is.: f o f p V1. yAtoy ofthe class described comprising a jbody including rockers, double rendedfloorpressure Einem-ber 'fpivoted on said body and suspended betweensaid rockers, the ends of said floor pressure member being alternatelyengageable with the Hoor and means for manually actuating said floorpressure member.

2. A toy of the class described, comprising a body including rockers, alever suspended from said body between said rockers, a double endedfloor pressure member pivoted intermediate of its pressure ends to thelower end of said lever, said pressure ends of the member beinCralternately`engageable with the tico:k as the lever is moved forwardlyand rearwardly and means for manually actuating said lever. f

3. A toy of the class described comprising a body including rockers, avlever pivoted to said body and suspended between said rockers to a pointabove the surface of the floor, a floor pressure member pivoted to thelower end of said lever, va link connection between said member and saidbody, and means for manually actuating said lever.

4t. A toy of the class described comprising a body including rockers, alever pivoted to said body and suspended between the aforesaid roclrer,the lower end of said lever being above the surface of the floor, apositive acting doublev ended floor pressure member pivoted intermediateof its pressure ends to the lower end of said lever, said pressure endsofthe member being alternately engageable with the floor as said leveris moved forwardly andk rearwardly and means for manually actuating saidlever.

5. A toy of the class described comprising a body including rockers, alever pivoted to said bodyl and suspended between said rockers, thelower end of said lever terminating latter and means for manuallyactuating said lever. Y A

6. A toy of the class described comprising body including rockers,alever pivoted to said body andsuspended therefrom between said rockers,the lower end of said lever ter-` minating at a point above the surfaceofthe floor, a floor pressure member pivoted intermediate of its ends tothe lower end of said lever, a, link member engaged with said floorpressure member on one side of the center ,of the latter and also havingconnection with the upper portion of said body and means for manuallyactuating said lever.

7. A toy of the class described comprising ya body including rockers, apositive acting member and means selectively applied to one end of saidfloor pressure member for producing progressive movement in eitherdirection as the body is rocked.

9. A toy of the class described comprising abody including rockers, alever suspended from said body between said rockers, a iloor pressuremember'. pivoted to the lower end of said lever, means for manuallyactuating said lever and means adapted for application removably to oneendy of said-floor pressure member for producing progressive movement inone direction as said body is rocked. In testimony whereof I aiiiX mysignature.

LOGAN L. MALLARD. f

